Voting machine



July 21, 1925.

T. H. HEACOCK ET AL VOTING MACHINE Filed March 15, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 amulet 771624600? a m A dfizkfidfdav/z July 21, 1925.

T. H. HEACOCK ET AL VOTING MACHINE Filed March 15', 192:

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 7/1 Hal-MM a; )1. 5. Richard 5012,;

:MQ'M WM g Patented July 21, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT" OF CE? I THOMAS H. HEACOCK AND ALBERT S. RICHARDSON, OF CANTON; OHIO.

vo'rme MACHINE Application filed March 15, 1923. Serial No 625,280.

T all whom it'may concern:

Be it known that we,T1roMAs H. HEA- COCK and ALBERT S. RICHARDSON both citizens of the United States, and both residing at Canton, in the county of Stark and State o f .Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in-Voting Machines, of which' the following is a specification.

, This invention relates to voting machines ofithat general type including aplurality of units arranged infvertical rows corresponding in number to the recognized political parties having candidates forclection, ,oneiunitgingeach vertical rowf being provided for each" candidate for an elective oflice of that particular party; i w

:Tlieob'jiact of theinvention are to provide a votingmachine of this general charee qi Pe ha w m ghtt qk y hevoted operating the vupper unlt ovf any yertical row; to provide lmeans for locking a 1 l )f the units in the niachinewhen the upper u'nituof any -.verticalro'w isoperated; to

7 provide meansfonlockiiig allloflth'e' units n. ny c i entallno up the Op at one u'nit'in saidhorizontal row; to provide means ,ior preventing -.'simultaneous opera- ,ti' of. two units in the same'horizontal row toflprevide-ineens for maintaining the ma chine in a locliedposition after the complte operation of the same' until the voter has left the voting booth; to provide means 'fo feutomatically unlocking the machine when a vot ei" enters the votin gf hooth; to 35 provide means for displaying the-name, pic'- ture and elective ofiiceof each candidate and to generally-simplify and improve voting machinesof this'character. i

The above and other objects may be attained by constructing the machine inthe manner illustrated in the iaccompanying Vdrawings, i n w l iich' 4 ,1,

' Figure Iris ia' ffront elevation ofa machine embodying fthe' invention Y Fig; 2, a, ec-tion on the line 2-2, Fig. 1; Fig'. 3, a section on the line 3 3, Fig. 2'; 1, affront elevation. pf one of ;-the push buttons" showing the label thereon eontainin'gthe name, picture'and elective office of the} candidate to be "voted iforby. op-

erating thatlparticuIar'hutton;

Fig; 5, a section on line 5-5, Figfl Fig. 6, a section on line 66,' Fig.5 an'd E g- FWQ h pemtfli y the opening of the door to energize the elec tromagnets. r f I Similar numerals of eference indicate corresponding. parts throughout the drawlngs. V. v f

. Referring to the drawings, a. casing is shown at 1 which houses the mechanism of the voting machine and is dividediby one o'rmorewertical partitions 2 into'aplurality ofvertical ows o tiers,. eaeh of which is, dided into'a numben 'of compartments the horizontal partitions .3. 1 I

' "The upper compartmentioifv row or tier has apush rod' 4 slidably mcuntedlin-Qa bearing.5 within tlie compartment end'ektending outward through. an vnper tiii'efi in the front .wall of the casing, apush b tto'n [being fixedupon th "outer endvof the fed; r. .v ,.V c.

.pn .I lA nd; fiflfflg t be? o y held in engagement with the front wall. of the housing by acoil sp'ri'ng flinterposed be fAlffc'fllarl0 is fixed upon the rear portion of the I push rod 41 and 1 provided with: a depending finger 11 having a. stud., 12 located in: the substantially, ihsheped ,slot. 1 termed iii the one end portio'nz'o f the lever 1 4,,which is ,lixedf intermediate its extremities upon 'thshaft 15 which extends throiigh all of the upper compartments ofthe machine. and is pivoted'in bearings 16 mounted upon the upper horizontal partition'ii.

v i Alvertically' 'slidable bar 17 is provided at its upper'endwith a pin 18 extended into the slotlS) formed in the opposite-end of each .of the levers 14, this bar extending downward through-all of the compartments in each vertical row.

A push rod 4 is slidably mounted in a bearing 5 in each compartmentiexcepting those in the upperho'rizontal'row, and is normally held in the inoperative position by the cOii sprin'g;9', each of the push-rods {B being provided witli'a; push button 7., ,-;The rear end -portion ofeach' push rod T4 is bifurcated longitudinally as at 20 to cQll p ll'tments in each horizontal-row. The latch member 22 is provided with a for tween said shoulder and the adjacent end of wardly disposed, depending finger 24 for engagement with the forwardly inclined notches 25'. or 26 ii the upperside of the adjac'eritpush rod 3;

All of the push rods in each horizontal row areiiconnected .by .,a flexible cable 27 fixed to one side wall of the casing as at 28 and provided with an adjusting stres es at its other end for adjusting the tension upon the cable. Each of these cables should be adjusted to have just sufiicient slack to permit the operation of only one push rod in each horizontal row, thus preventing the simultaneous operation of any two push rods in the same horizontal row.

A lever 30 is pivoted as at 31 in each compart'nienttabove the rear end portion of the 'push rod therein and is provided at its lower end with a'vertical slot 32 engaging a pin in the push rod, the'uppper end of the lever having a vertical slot 34 engaged by a pin 35 in the rear on? of'a rod 36 which is connected to any sui able fo'rm' of counter, such as indicated-at 37; r :A magnet 38 isx'provided' in each compmment, the armature thereof being of hell cranl: form and pivoted -at 40 upon the bearing 5, the rearwardly' disposed legal there-6f having a depen'dln" foot 42 for en; gagement with the incline notch 43 inth'e up ei' fac'eof thep'ush lod. ii i i ll 65 the magndts" 38 are located in a cireuit provided with a switchbjiveratedby' th'e ldpening and closing of thedooritkithe voting booth, the switch beingja'r'raiigd' to beautomatically closed to energizlshe by "the bpehing 'of the 'door and be au- "tomatic'ally epairedto de-ener'gi e 'thenm'g- ,ifie y th s s fi a w dborliff h w c may be of any desirabiei'onstr'u tian la'rrar'iged to b'e'clo's'ed' "Ythe' opeilihg oi the dor 60 of the booth, 'for tljepurp se illhst'riition, comprises a-llila'de' :61, hinged to the doo'r frame and noi'iiiall 'i u geditoward the Contact 62, b'ja ls'prin' insulated finger 64, upon the ama gam; arrahg'd co hjbld the block out of engagement'with the cdiitact when the door isjeldsedg Wires 65, lead from 'a-"source' of electric energy, through the switch, to thejnag'xits 38, are circuitfto the magnets thus being bee while the door is closed, and cldsd when the door isope'n'e'd;

V For" the purpo'se of providing a positive means for unlocking all'i'ji'thehnits off'the fi 'iitin'g machine, ashafti l-tfxnay be extended horizontally through eachhorizontal row of compartments and provided with an'feccen trie cam 45 adjacent to the' verticall'y disposed log of each armature. -These shafts 44 may be operated in any suitable manner frhiu the exterior of the voting booth, b'ya'n a t a v I Each of the push rods 4 is Qifiovide'ct'vvith a transverse groove 46 throug'l'rwhich the bar 17' is arranged to extend and each bar 17 is provided with the half round notches 47 to r'eceige the pushxods' 4- When the parts are in the normat'position.

Each of the push buttons 7 is provided with the peripherally threaded flange 48 to receive the threaded locking rin 49, a round card 50 being placed under the lens or crystal 51 which is held in place by said ring. The card 50 is arranged to contain the name of the candidate as shown at :32, a picture of the candidate astshow'n 9x153 and the elec= tive ol'ric'e of the candidate as indicated at 54.

Thus a voter will be able to tell at a glance at the push buttons the candidate for whom he desires to vote, and should he unable to remember the name of a candidate, the pictures of the candidates will guide him in voting.

O'ne vertical tier of units is provided for each political party having candidates to be voted upon. The 11 per unit'i'n each vertival tier is provided fer 'voti'ng'a Straight ticket and one unit is r'ovided in each vertig cal tier for each"fc'a ndi lar political part-ii j In operating 'the' I'fiaJchi'ne' 'to vote a st'faigl'itticket, the r'od 4 in the dethe tear end of the lever 14 ml raises the ment with the push ifods 4;, the adjacent d t i i f the 19 k ba b iii'g. Projected intq-t re grooves 46 (if allftb i sh'rOdsA in p ishi i d agl li met meht I This roel ingjof 'the le'ye '14 rocks he the upper compartments other levers 14 is rocked in this manner, the

forwardly 'in'c'lined- 'leg 5610f the slo't' therecentpush rod 4.

in will receive the 12 npon t hepadja;

[This "melding oif'alljo f fth ather' ie'v'as ,"14

will"consequently raise all of the'btheh look ing bars 17, loclgin alljbfthi: push mils in the machine; Tb vjit for "any particular candidate, the pushhearing tl 1e candida'tes picturejarrd mime h pressed inward, movlng the'push rod 4 thereof inward.

' 'The shoulc'ler"5 of the b'i furcation b of the push rod willengage' the lower arm '21 of the latch 22, ro kin ftiie 1a't'ch-22"an'd with it the rocker shaft 2'3, 'tlie jtdit wa'i d ger of the latch'beingreceiyedin thefno'tbh As'the rock shaft 23 is rocked; 511 55; the

latches 22in that horizontal row will be date'of thafparticuff nki i aa rocked, the fingers 24 thereof entering the notches 25 of the other push rods 4* in that horizontal row, locking the'same against operation. 7

The push rod 4 which has been actuated will be moved rearwardly until the notch 43 thereonwillie'gister with the foot 42 upon the weighted arm 41 of the armature, permitting the same to drop intothe notch 43, thus locking all of the units in each horizontal row by the operation of one of said units.

After the voter has voted for a candidate for each office, the entire machine is locked and as he opens the door to leave the booth, the switch referred to will be closed, energizing all of the magnets 38, the armatures 39 thereof being drawn upward, releasing the push rods which will be returned to the normal position by means of the springs 9.

The shafts 44 and eccentrics 45 are provided as a positive means of unlocking the machine after each voter has completed his voting. By rotating all of the shafts 44, the eccentrics 45 thereon will engage the upper ends of the armatures 39, rocking the same to withdraw the feet 42 thereof from the notches 43 of the Push rods.

It will, of course, be understood that with each depression of a push rod 4 or 4*, the rod 36 connected to the counter will be operated through the lever 30, registering the total number of votes cast for each candi date.

For the purpose of locking all of the uni-ts in the inoperative position after the polls are closed a locking device is provided, comprising a push rod 4* located in a compartment in horizontal alignment with the upper horizontal row of units. A collar 10 is fixed upon the inner end of the push rod and provided with a finger 11 hav ing a pin or stud 12, which engages the V-shaped slot 13 in a lever 14 mounted upon the rocker shaft 15.

The outer end of the push rod 4* extends through the front wall of the compartment 60 and is provided with a transverse aperture 61 arranged to normally register with the aperture 62 (Fig. 6) in the ear 63, the coil spring 9 upon said push rod normally holding the same in this position. The shackle 64 of a pad lock 65 is arranged to be passed through the openings 61 and 62 when the machine is in operation for voting.

When the polls have closed, an authorized officer who has a key to the pad lock 65 removes the same from the push rod 4 and pushes the push rod inward, until the opening 61 therein registers with the opening 66 in the ear 63, after which the pad lock is inserted through the openings 61 and 66 and locked, holding the push rod in this position.

It will be seen that as the push rod 4 is thus operated the lever 14 connected there- 'is operated,

to will be rocked, rocking the rock shaft 15 and with it all of the levers 14, operating the-locking bars 17to look all of the units inthe mach'ine; 'ltiwill thusebe impossible for any unauthorized person to tamper with the voting machine after the same is locked.

I 1.'In -a= voting machine, a plurality of voting units .arranged in vertical and-horizontal-.rows, a push rod fora each unit, a counter. operated 1 byeach push rod, means for locking each push, rod when the same i and a: rockershaft provided with. rocker arms for lockingall; of the push rods in the machine when the upper push rod in one vertical row is operated.

2. In a voting machine, a plurality of voting units arranged in vertical and horizontal rows, a push rod for each unit, a counter operated by each push rod, means for locking each push rod when the same is operated, a rocker shaft provided with rocker arms for locking all of the push rods in each horizontal row when one push rod in said row is operated, a vertical locking rod connected to the rocker arm of each unit in the top row and provided with notches to receive the push rods in the same vertical row, the push rods having transverse grooves to receive said vertical locking rods, whereby all of the push rods in each vertical row are locked when the uppe push rod of said row is operated.

3. In a voting machine, a plurality of voting units arranged in vertical and horizontal rows, a push rod for each unit, a counter operated by each push rod, means for locking each push rod when the same is operated, a rocker arm arranged to be opera-tedby the push rod of the upper unit of each vertical row, and a vertically slidable locking rod connected to each rocker arm to look all of the push rods in each vertical row when the upper push rod of said row is operated. v

4. In a voting machine, a plurality of voting units arranged in vertical and horizon tal rows, a push rod for each unit, a counter operated by each push rod, means for looking each push rod when the same is operated, a rocker arm arranged to be operated by the push rod of the upper unit of each vertical row, a vertically slidable locking rod connected to each rocker arm, said locking rod having notches to receive the push rods and the push rods having transverse grooves to receive the locking rod, whereby all of the push rods in each vertical row are locked when the upper push rod of said row is operated.

5. In a voting machine, a plurality of voting units arranged in vertical and horizontal rows, a push rod for each unit, a counter operated by each push rod, means for locking each push rod when the same is operated, an 'electromagne't for unlocking each push rod when the'saine is energized, and means for simultaneously energizing all of the magnets after each voternhas voted.

6.111 a voting machine, a plurality of voting units arranged in vertical and horizontal rows, a push rod for each unit, acounter operated by each push rod,1neans for locking eaxzh pushhrod when the same is operated, I an =electromagnet for unlocking each push =r0d when the same is energized, and m'eans for:siimiltzlneously energizing all "(if the magnets' ws-each voter leaves the votin" booth in \which the machine is located. 15

In a .voting machine, eiplurality of voting units arranged in vertical andlhoriz'ontal rows, :1 push rod for each unit, .a counter opemted by each push rod and a "vertical locking rod and a plurdlity of in QM SH- HEACQ Q- ALBERT S. RICHARDSON. 

